Chapter 370
Carissa deliberated before ordering Eric to be brought in for questioning. In the side room, a charcoal stove held a fire poker, which soon glowed red-hot.
Seeing this, Eric was terrified; he nearly wet his pants. Falling to his knees, he pleaded, “Your Highness, spare me! Please spare me!”
Carissa sat upright, frowning slightly. “Why would I want your life? I just need you to answer a few questions truthfully.”
Eric nodded vigorously. “I will tell you everything I know.”
Carissa held up the purchase ledger. “Is Jessica aware that you’ve been purchasing cheap, rough goods?”
“Yes, of course! She instructed us to get them.”
“Did you inform her that the gold used in the jewelry is impure and might cause problems?”
Eric’s eyes shifted nervously. “I mentioned it, but Lady Jessica said it didn’t matter. She said if there were problems in a few years, we’d be closed by then anyway.”
Carissa sneered. “Would the shop be closed, or would you all have shifted the blame to Lady Helen?”
Eric fell silent.
Carissa continued, “The shop has been running for several years. Have you received complaints from customers about impure gold? How have you handled them?”
Luke, standing nearby, lifted and waved the fire poker.
Terrified, Eric trembled. “We’ve been giving out inexpensive gifts to silence complaints. This year’s business has been good, and Lady Jessica’s plan is to close the shop after August next year, once the wedding season is over.”
“That’s it?” Carissa scoffed. “I said tell me the truth. You’re only giving me half the story. Do you want to see if you can swallow this fire poker?”
The fire poker was thrust toward Eric, who screamed and fell to the ground.
“No! Please! I’ll tell you everything!”
Carissa’s voice was cold. “Then speak honestly. If you lie, you’ll end up swallowing this fire poker.”
Eric stared at the glowing fire poker, and dared not withhold any information. Prostrating himself, he said, “Your Highness, I will tell you the truth! Lady Jessica plans to shift all the blame onto Lady Helen when the matter comes to light. As Lady Helen is the mother of the Hell Monarch, she can handle the backlash. Then, Grand Princess Eleanor will step in to arrange compensation, certainly paid with the cheap stock from The Gilded Tower…”
He paused, hesitating.
Carissa didn’t need him to say more.
“So, Grand Princess Eleanor will gain a reputation for supporting the common people, while Lady Helen and Prince Rafael become targets of public scorn. Moreover, the compensation consists of the store’s cheap goods, hardly worth much. When all is said and done, Grand Princess Eleanor and Jessica will have profited immensely, gaining both money and fame.”
Eric’s face turned pale. Clearly, the Hell Monarch’s princess consort had already figured everything out.
After sending Eric away, Carissa sneered, “She really is something else, stepping on Mother and Rafael to elevate herself. She wants to win the people’s hearts while currying favor with the noble families. Luke, what do you think she’s planning?”
Luke thought for a moment. “I’m but a dim-witted humble servant, Your Highness. I truly don’t understand.”
Eleanor was the grand princess, and her nephew was securely on the throne. What other ambitions could she have? Luke couldn’t guess, and Carissa wasn’t sure either. It couldn’t just be about securing Jessica’s position in the capital or in the Marquis of Ironridge’s family, could it?
Regardless, since the scheme had landed on Helen and Rafael’s household, they couldn’t be left to do whatever they wanted. Carissa instructed the accountant to calculate Helen’s investment and funds provided over the years, along with the profits divided at seventy percent, and then report the total amount.
Carissa returned to her room and changed into a water-blue brocade dress with floral embroidery. She donned a black cloak, concealing the red whip strapped to her waist.